[headbob]

Thanks for the recomendations guys, I appreciate it.
 
I'll be stopping at my local library later today with a very long list of cds to explore...

 

[AudioDwebe]

Jazz music is very much a learning process, as it has many styles under the unbrella that is "Jazz". 
 
Since you've got a computer, go to Amazon, type in the artist you're interested in, listen to the 30-second samples, and go from there.  If you like it, then look to see what other artists folks either purchased or listened to. 
 
Good luck on your musical journey.
 
Cheers.

 

[falis]

Here are some names whose music might appeal to you:
 
Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Albert Ayler, Chico Freeman, Henry Threadgill, David Murray, Julius Hemphill, Roscoe Mitchell, later Ornette Coleman (Body Meta period), Ronald Shannon Jackson, Don Cherry, Mahavishnu Orchestra, early 70's Miles Davis, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Air, later period Lee Konitz, Fly, Warne Marsh, Jimmy Halperin, Pat Martino.  The list could go on a long time.  Not everything these people have been involved in matches your description below, because they're mostly very versatile players, but there ought to be enough nuggets in there for you.
 
Quote:

I like the list, and not to confuse things, but for me it is difficult to find the "type" or "genre" of Jazz I enjoy.
When I was younger I lived in the Yale district of New Haven CT and there were several Jazz clubs that would get visiting musicians to play with locals on their way to and from Boston or NYC.
Most everything I had listened to was a kind of Avant garde, Free Jazz that seemed as though the musicians were jammin' but highly structured jamming. Passing the solos from one to another building on or breaking down previous rhythms or starting a new line of progression. I never knew what the label was for this kind of Jazz but I sure do miss the style and I have spent years (not continuously, but as the urge strikes me) to find that style and feeling of Jazz out there and I have touched on it, but never felt like I hit gold in finding it.
Most recently my searching has lead me to Ornette Coleman (vinyl-This is our music) but I have gone through Chrlie Parker, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Stanley Clark, and many others trying them out, listening to a cross section of albums they were the main focus of or colaberated with others on and I have yet to tap into that fun, energetic, spontanious, mathematically complex music that I listened to back in the early '80's. I am sure it is out there, I am just not very good at locating it.

 

[falis]

Oh yeah: Dave Holland (pick up Conference of the Birds), Anthony Braxton, ...

 

[falis]

Mingus's Changes I and 2 - I love that ensemble.  Don Pullen and George Adams from the group later did a couple of albums on their own that are really sweet.

 

[headbob]

Hmm, it seems that I'll have to wait awihle for some music.  For almost every album I wanted to check out, they were out or in towns faraway from where I live.
 
But from the little I've checked out on youtube, I'm blown away by Mingus.

 

[tru blu]

Quote:

But from the little I've checked out on youtube, I'm blown away by Mingus.

Uh-ohhh…sounds like we've got a future convert on our hands. Once Mingus gets his hooks in you, it's all over…

 

[headbob]

Hah yeah, I can't stop my body from swaying to Moanin'.  Ooh, and that bari...

 

[Spyro]

Dave Weckl Band, Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny Group, Spyro Gyra, Christian McBride, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Ken Navarro, Brad Mehldau, Stanley Clarke, Caribbean Jazz Project, Mike Moreno are some good contemporary offerings.

 

[hodgjy]

Herbie Hancock was my entry into jazz, and I recommend him to anyone looking to make the entry as well.

 

[Maxvla]

Quote:

Hah yeah, I can't stop my body from swaying to Moanin'.  Ooh, and that bari...

If that song doesn't get your head bobbing (pun intended), nothing will.